Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Reading
Christmas stories is an ideal way to spend an evening or two during this
special time of year. Granted, there are quite a few wonderful Christmas movies
available, and I admit to watching my fair share; however, I also enjoy curling
up under an afghan on the sofa in front of the fireplace, with a cup of hot
chocolate close by, and reading a good Christmas story. There’s just something
about reading that surpasses watching a movie. Perhaps it’s the way literature
brings one’s imagination into play, which simply isn’t the case with movies
because, with movies, nothing is left to one’s imagination.

Below are some
of my favorite Christmas stories, although, admittedly, there are others I also
enjoy. However, I read these particular stories to my children when they were
growing up, and I continue to read them today, these many years later, because
they never cease to fill me with the true spirit of the holiday season.

Google Images, 2014

The Night Before Christmas, by Clement Clarke Moore

Of
note, Moore was actually a
professor of classics at the General Theological Seminary in New York and wrote
a renowned scholarly work on the lexicon of the Hebrew language” (New York
Institute, 2010). However, he is best known for the immortal The Night
Before Christmas, which was originally a poem he wrote for his children in
1822 and titled “A Visit from Saint Nicholas.”First published in December of 1823, fittingly only two days before
Christmas, the story was an instant hit and quickly became a Christmas staple
around the world. (New York Institute, 2010).

Perhaps because
I have read this charming story so many times through the years, I can quote it
almost entirely by heart, as probably many of you can. Yet, if you haven’t managed
to memorize it, or simply need a refresher, here is how this classic
begins:

Twas
the night before Christmas, when all through the house/Not a creature was
stirring, not even a mouse;/The stockings were hung by the chimney with
care,/In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;/The children were nestled
all snug in their beds,/While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;/And
mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,/Had just settled our brains for a long
winter's nap— (Moore, 1823)

Google Images, 2014

A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens
wrote his classic tale of Christmas in 1843, and, interestingly, according to
the Unitarian Universal Historical Society (2009), “Around this time Christmas
Day was again beginning to be celebrated and the holiday transformed. The story
and its characters—Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Crachit and Tiny Tim—defined the
holiday's meaning for the English-speaking world as the regenerative spirit of
generosity, or what Dickens called his ‘Carol philosophy.’”

This wonderful
story relates how three ghosts visit the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas
Even and, with their help, he undertakes a journey toward repentance,
forgiveness, and, ultimately, love. It ends on this inspiring note:

He
had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon the Total Abstinence
Principle ever afterward; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to
keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be
truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless us,
Every One! (Dickens, 1984)

Google Images, 2014

A Christmas Memory, by Truman Capote

According to PBS
American Masters (2006), Truman Capote, born in New Orleans in 1924, is
considered one of America’s most controversial and colorful authors, and “though
he wrote only a handful of books, his prose styling was impeccable, and his
insight into the psychology of human desire was extraordinary.”

A Christmas
Memory, which tells the
story of “Buddy” and his elderly cousin—as well as beloved friend—Miss Sook Faulk,
is a frankly autobiographical story of the years after Capote’s mother
abandoned him, leaving him in the care of his elderly aunts and cousins in
Monroeville, Alabama, where he lived a solitary and lonely existence and turned
to writing for solace. (PBS, 2006)

This beautifully
written novelette opens with a plea to the reader to use his or her
imagination:

Imagine
a morning in late November. A coming of winter morning more than twenty years
ago. Consider the kitchen of a spreading old house in a country town. A great
black stove is its main feature; but there is also a big round table and a
fireplace with two rocking chairs placed in front of it. Just today the
fireplace commenced its seasonal roar. (Capote, 1956)

In summary, of
course there are other Christmas stories, many of them moving and extremely
well written, but these three have all become classics, and for good reason.
So, why not fix a cup of hot chocolate, curl up under an afghan in front of a
cozy fire, and allow Clement Moore, Charles Dickens, and Truman Capote to share
the real meaning of Christmas with you and your family this holiday season.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

You
may be searching for holiday movies that the entire family can enjoy. If so,
then I would like to share some of my personal favorites for your consideration.

Of
course, when it comes to quality Christmas movies for family viewing, there are
actually quite a lot, far more in fact than I could possibly address in this
blog posting. Then again, there are some that are consistently rated more
highly than others for their entertainment value, and while a few are classics,
others are of more recent vintage; however, whether old or new these movies all
share certain characteristics:

They
do not contain violence, profanity, or nudity.

They
are immensely entertaining.

They contain characters about whom you can care.

The storyline actually has "meaning."

They
are guaranteed to fill you with the true spirit of the Christmas
season.

Classic Christmas Movies for Family Viewing

Granted, some children
might consider older movies passé or even “boring,” but the stories told in the
following movies are timeless and remain as heartwarming today as when the
films were first released. So, with this in mind, after viewing these movies,
children might develop an appreciation for the oldies but goodies.

Google Images (2014)

Miracle on 34th
Street(1947): Considered “one of
Hollywood’s most delightful fantasies” (Martin & Porter), t››his movie stars
Natalie Wood as a child who has stopped believing in Santa Claus but has her
faith restored when she meets a department store Santa, played by Edmund Gwenn,
who claims to be the real thing; and whether he is or he isn’t is left for the
viewer to decide in this heartwarming classic.

Google Images (2014)

It’s a Wonderful Life (1948): Starring legendary Hollywood actors as James
Steward, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Ward Bond, and Henry
Travers, this film relates the story of a good man who begins to question
whether life has passed him by and to wonder what it would have been like for
others had he never been born. Would they be better off for never having known
him? Of course, he learns the answer, which is the premise for this
“heartbreaking, humorous, and ultimately heartwarming” tale (Martin &
Porter).

Google Images (2014)

A Christmas Carol(1951): This version of Charles Dickens’ classic tale
is considered by many film critics to be the best adaptation of the story. It
stars Alistair Simms as Ebenezer Scrooge, the meanest miser in all of London,
and is guaranteed to “bring a tear to your eye and joy to your heart” (Martin
& Porter).

More Recent Christmas
Movies for Family Viewing

In
recent years Hollywood has produced several delightful holiday movies that are
appropriate for all ages, including very young children. A few are especially
noteworthy, including the following:

Google Images (2014)

Charlie Brown Christmas (1965): Although by some standards an “oldie,” this
animated tale remains “young at heart,” perhaps because it stars the entire
cast of Charles Schulz’s Peanuts and is considered by some film critics to be
“required viewing for anybody concerned with losing the Christmas spirit”
(Martin & Porter).

Google Images (2014)

A Christmas Story(1983): Set in the 1940’s, this movie stars Bill
Billingsley as a boy who dreams of receiving the ultimate Christmas gift—a Red
Ryder air rifle. His parents, however, played by Melinda Dillon and Darren
McGavin, don’t think he’s yet old enough to handle a rifle. At times both
heartwarming and hilarious, this film is a viewing delight for both young and
old.

Google Images (2014)

The
Santa Clause (1994): The
star of this film is Tim Allen, a father who finds himself obligated to become
Santa Claus after frightening the Jolly Elf and causing him to plunge from the
roof, thanks to a little thing called “The Santa Clause.” So Allen dons Santa’s
suit, and from this moment on, the story becomes magical entertainment.

Google Images (2014)

Elf (2003): Starring Will
Ferrell, this enjoyable holiday film tells the story of a man who was raised by
Santa’s elves at the North Pole but then learns of his human origins, which
explains why he towers over his elfin kin, and wishes to return to the real
world in order to locate his biological father.

The
Polar Express(2004): This animated film is based on the children’s book by
Chris Van Allsburg and was nominated for an Academy Award, for obvious reasons.
The story of a young boy who doubts the existence of Santa Claus but then
boards a magical train headed for the North Pole, this extraordinary film stars
Eddie Deezen and Tom Hanks (at least their voices) and is a must-see Christmas
film for all ages.

In summary,
these delightful, entertaining, and wholesome Christmas movies will provide
hours of fun for the entire family. Moreover, they are guaranteed to fill
everyone, children and adults alike, with the true spirit of the Yule Tide season.

Monday, December 1, 2014

Today I have some really amazing news! Our game demo is live on our sister site: lectrajack.com! Now you will need to download the Unity player add-on to run it, but we assure you that is a safe add-on and won't negatively affect your browser. You may also need to enable that add-on if your browser is set to automatically disable such things.

Also, we are phasing out blogger, and are going to start posting on wordpress on our site, 3twins.net, so please check it out.